Myeik- A Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been proposed to protect Myeik Archipelago, receiving enthusiastic support from some villages along the Myeik Archipelago that hopes the MPA will cover their villages as well. In Taninthayi Region, LMA (Locally-managed Marine Area) has been established in islands such as Done Pale Aw, La Ngan and Linlon-Payawwah and successes were achieved to some extent. Marine Conservation works has been implemented for more than 2 years and locals also cooperated in these implementations. “Marine conservation works has been implementing in three places in Myeik Archipelago to conserve the Myeik archipelago’s unique biodiversity from the serious threats it faces, and to support sustainable fisheries. These works will achieve success only when there is cooperation of locals. That’s why we are planning to extend the conservation areas together with locals. Locals are anxious that there are outside fishing. As there are sustainable benefits, other villages want to join the work,” said Zaw Lu, program manager of FFI(Fauna and Flora International). Myeik archipelago comprises over 800 islands of white sandy beaches and coral reefs teeming with a diverse array of marine life. To ensure the archipelago’s diverse habitats are conserved while ensuring sustainability of the fishery a system of MPAs and LMMAs will need to become part of a wider marine spatial planning process. Scientific surveys conducted by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF), the Department of Fisheries and the Navy, identified 287 species of coral and 365 reef fish species as well as reefs rich in echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks and sponges. The coral reefs, along with sea-grass areas and mangrove forests, provide crucial nursery habitat for many of the marine life species upon which the fishing industry depends.
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